Men & Doctors
I see a lot of male patients in my Functional Medicine practice. And no matter what age they’re at, there’s no denying men are a whole lot less likely to visit a doctor’s office.
While it’s important for people of all ages to pay attention to their bodies, the stats show that men aren’t taking their health as seriously as women. But they should.
In fact, men are 24% less likely to visit the doctor than women. Additionally, they’re 22% more likely than women to neglect their health. That’s a key reason why men suffer more heart attacks in their 50’s than women.
No matter what age they’re at and where their health is at the moment, I’ve put together a list of important questions and answers to help men stay healthy.
Before I share my “doctorly and manly” insights, if you missed last week’s blog on“Should you take Collagen? I do….”, you can use this link, Here.
👤💪🙈 OK, let’s man up and take a look at why men often don’t take their health quite as seriously 🙈💪👤
MEN’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS HEALTH
A new survey highlights the negative attitude many men have about seeking medical care:
Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they avoid going to the doctor as long as possible, and 37 percent said they withhold information from their doctors
Experts say this is an ongoing issue that keeps doctors from detecting life-threatening issues early, resulting in bigger health dangers and sometimes death
As part of the survey, men were asked how they approach their medical treatment. The results:
72 percent of respondents said they would rather be doing household chores, like cleaning toilets, than going to the doctor
65 percent of respondents said they avoid going to the doctor as long as possible
20 percent admitted they aren’t always honest with their doctors about their health
37 percent said they had withheld information from their doctors in the past, specifically because they weren’t ready to deal with the potential diagnosis that might result if they told the truth
All this medical avoidance and withholding of the truth puts men at risk. But what’s behind it and how can society work to better address it?
THE MOST COMMON CONCERNS
Why are men less likely to make regular visits to the doctor?
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men.For some men who are in good health, they may not think it’s necessary. But the reality is that men of every decade need routine checkups. There are conditions that should potentially be checked.
Another reason could be the comfort factor. Maybe they aren’t comfortable with the idea of getting an exam or a blood draw. Or maybe they have the “dread factor,” thinking they are going to learn some bad news or get a lecture. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Doctors are not there to make people feel bad; they want to help you stay healthy. You can read more in this PubMed study, Here.
What is the number one condition that men are most likely to ignore?
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men. Unfortunately, it can affect men in their 40’s and younger. The good news is that it can be prevented.
Cancer takes the No. 2 spot, and there are also important screening tests based on age and family history for this.
What are some of the warning signs for heart disease?
People who smoke, don’t exercise, have a family history of heart disease, have high blood pressure numbers, or have unhealthy cholesterol or blood sugar levels are all at highest risk. I highly recommend having a physical exam to assess for these risks. Chest pain and difficulty breathing can be signs of current heart disease. I recommend being seen as soon as possible for any chest symptoms.
What types of things can men do to combat these symptoms?
To start, weight management is key. Don’t get caught up with shortcuts like energy drinks or weight loss supplements. They don’t help, and can actually cause health issues like unhealthy heart rhythms. Instead, keep it basic: focus on portions, and stick with sustainable and very specific exercise goals.
The idea of eliminating your favorite foods long-term just isn’t realistic. On top of that, I’ve had many patients who get going on a commercial weight loss program. Or, they jump into a temporary 60-day challenge program, lose the weight, but end up gaining it all back. Lifestyle choices are the key to success. Everything in current medical literature suggests that being a non-smoker, being active and maintaining a healthy body weight is the best way to minimize heart disease. It'll also help with diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, and even anxiety and depression.
Another condition men are often concerned with but are nervous to ask about is low testosterone. Is this something people talk about during regular check-ups?
Absolutely. However, the first thing you should know is that routine or baseline testing for low testosterone isn’t necessary. Most men do not have low testosterone. Honestly, avoiding alcohol and maintaining a healthy body weight are two easy ways you can combat this.
A STORY FROM A PARAMEDIC and REASONS MEN OFTEN STAY AWAY FROM THEIR DOCTORS
A paramedic recently shared that he’s had male patients initially refuse transport to the hospital even while in the middle of an active heart attack.
He reported that he has had to ask family members to help convince the patient to go with them to the hospital. A few times he’s also had to telephone the emergency room physician to help convince the patient to go to the hospital.
Having witnessed this extreme avoidance of medical care firsthand, he said a lot of men simply have the attitude of, “I don’t need to see a doctor.”
One reason for this attitude, may be the fact that many men convince themselves that their condition will improve on its own, not wanting to “bother” a doctor in the meantime.
In my experience there are often a few other things contributing as well: fear, superhero syndrome, and the fact that “vulnerability sucks.
As a functional medicine doctor, I think the number one reason men avoid the doctor is fear. They worry about a bad diagnosis or a bad outcome.
Then there is the superhero syndrome, which is men wanting to see themselves as forever strong and capable of handling anything. They oftentimes see going to the doctor as a weakness.
And finally… it’s vulnerability. Vulnerability sucks! Men don’t like being vulnerable.
The fear of vulnerability can extend to several issues, especially sensitive issues like erectile dysfunction. These are often topics men would just rather avoid talking about altogether, even if talking to a doctor about it could potentially help.
WHY MEN WITHHOLD INFORMATION FROM DOCTORS
There are the men who will go to their doctors, but who withhold information or purposefully lie about their current medical state.
Some men do this because they fear an embarrassing diagnosis and sometimes because of the stigma many men believe: that they should be strong enough to handle things on their own.
Women, on the other hand, tend to be much more forthcoming when it comes to healthcare. I find that women are used to sharing intimate details of their lives with friends, so it’s not difficult for them to open up. Men, however, are not conditioned by society to discuss feelings, so it’s more of a challenge.
THE DANGERS OF AVOIDING DOCTORS
The consequences of putting medical care off, or keeping information from ones doctor, can be serious.
The number one problem is missing early warning signs of a more serious condition. Especially when it comes to ‘silent symptoms,’ such as diagnosing pre-diabetes and other chronic medical conditions that should be addressed as early as possible.
By putting exams off, men may be in much worse condition by the time a disease is caught than they would have been if they had gone in early and regularly.
Unfortunately, due to delays and denials, by the time men come into the doctor’s office, sometimes the disease is no longer treatable. They may have to deal with consequences like dialysis, limb amputations, and sometimes death.
THE BOTTOM LINE
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will instruct his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet, and the cause and prevention of disease.” ~Thomas A. Edison
So how can we work to change the attitudes some men have toward receiving medical care and shifting the way men view medical care?
The most successful strategy I see families and couples using is to make their doctors appointments to come into the office together. Make it a ‘date,’ whether it’s with their father, uncle or husband; both come into the office together.
I tend to believe that men’s attitudes are beginning to shift for the better. The trend is slowly changing with millennials, who tend to be more informed about general health thanks to Google and a myriad of websites offering health advice.
It’s a move in the right direction, but the most recent survey results still prove we are a long way from where we need to be.
As always, if you’d like to talk more about what we covered in my newsletter today, make an appointment with me using the link:HERE.
Or, you can give me a call at (973) 210-3838
I want to hear from you! What questions or insights do you have about men’s health? Did you find this newsletter helpful?
Share your thoughts in the comments on our
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